For my 9th trip next year, I’m looking at the following itinerary. I have done most of the temples in Kyoto during the day already, but this is a chance to (hopefully!) see them with the Autumn leaves and Illuminations.
I know this year there’s talk of the leaves being later than usual, and I’m hoping to go for Peak Leaf, so these dates are somewhat estimated – I plan to book my trip in 2024 for sometime between November 15th and December 15th. Given the timing, I’m also going to check out some of the evening Christmas Illuminations in Tokyo as well. I *was* looking forward to Kobe Luminarie, but it turns out they’ve moved it to January 2024 instead, so the Mt Rokko Hike will have to suffice. I already had to get real with myself and take Nagoya off the list because the trip out to Korankei was just going to be too much to add into this trip – so far..?
I have everything sorted, especially in Kyoto, by area, questions on specific days are bolded at the bottom.
Again, this is estimated, along with possible hotel bookings – nothing here is finalized just yet. For flight information, I’m just going off of what is available from ANA for the timeframe.
>- November 25th: Arrive at 8pm Japan time. Pick up Nozomi Green Class tickets to Osaka for following day, and from Kyoto for December 3rd.
>- November 26th: Osaka – Early train to Osaka. Art supply shopping & relaxing. Evening in Dotonbori, considering dinner at the Hotel Granvia Osaka as my previous kaiseki experience with them was excellent.
>- November 27th: Osaka – Train to Kobe for Mt Rokko Hike, dinner in Kobe before returning to Osaka. Poss. visit to Umeda Sky Observatory in the evening.
>- November 28th: Kyoto – Check out of Osaka hotel, train to Minoo Park for the day & train to Kyoto in the evening. Check into Kyoto hotel for 5 nights.
>- November 29th: Kyoto – Shinnyodo, Eikando, Nanzenji Day/Night Views, Chionin Day/Night Views.
>- November 30th: Kyoto – Enkoji, Shugakuin Imperial Palace, Kyoto Botanical Gardens, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine Day/Night Views.
>- December 1st: Kyoto – Katsura Imperial Villa, train to Arashiyama for Tenryuji, Jojakkoji, Nisonin, & Gioji temples.
>- December 2nd: Kyoto – Kibune/Kurama and Momiji Tunnel Line, Kiyomizudera, Kodaiji Day/Night views.
>- December 3rd: Kyoto – Daigoji & Tofukuji, then back to Tokyo in the PM, check in to Hotel.
>- December 4th: Tokyo – Shinjuku Gyoen for autumn leaves. Evening Tokyo Illuminations in Shinjuku Southern Terrace and Omotesando. Shibuya SKY tickets, possibly?
>- December 5th: Tokyo – Nihonbashi & Ningyocho. Evening Illuminations in Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills.
>- December 6th: Tokyo – Rikugien, Koishikawa Korakuen, Evening Illuminations in Tokyo Dome City.
>- December 7th: Tokyo – Day Trip to Kamakura for Hokokuji, Engakuji, Meigetsuin, Jomyoji, Hasedera. Evening Illuminations in Meguro and Yebisu Garden Place.
>- December 8th: Tokyo – More Shopping/poss. trip to Tokyo Skytree. Evening Illuminations in Marunouchi. Muji Hotel Ginza for 1 night.
>- December 9th: Tokyo – Last bits of shopping. Head to the airport at 4pm, fly out of Haneda back to Canada at 8pm.
**Questions:**
**November 28th** – It’s just occurred to me that I’ve never been to Kyoto Tower. I’m interested in the night view, but the Tower closes at 8pm – should I wrap up my day in Osaka early to add this to my list? Most of the rest of my evenings are taken up with night views at other temples and gardens.
**November 29th** – I expect I might have to prioritize Nanzenji OR Chionin for nighttime Illuminations. Which is the better/harder to get into of the two? I have no problems with lineups, but if I will have to wait in line for one longer than the other, I’d like to make sure I make that one the Must-See for the day.
**November 30th** – Enkoji to Shugakuin, I think I might have to walk from one to the other in order to make it there for the start of the tour, 30-40 mins is the Google Maps estimate, but is there a reason to spend more than an hour at Enkoji? I’ll need to try and book the Shugakuin visit via the Imperial Palace, so I’m working on the assumption I can get a spot on the tour.
**December 2nd** – I’ve been wanting to visit Kibune/Kurama for some time, but was never really able to make it. Now it’s a priority for this trip with the Momiji Tunnel. I’m setting aside most of the day for this, but will I be able to do both Kiyomizudera and Kodaiji afterwards? If I have to do the night views only, that’s fine.
**December 4th** – Considering tacking on a trip to Nakano Broadway early in the day before going to Shinjuku Gyoen, but I often only visit the building itself and not the surrounding area. Any specific stores around Nakano Broadway I’m missing out on? I love checking out vintage/toy shops to begin with, so if the area is a lot of what is in the building, I’m happy to bop around.
**Tokyo Illuminations** – I’m a sucker for Christmas lights, which is why I’m intending to visit as many of these spots as I can, but I know they also get super busy with people. Any places to avoid specifically, either because of crowding or or less-than-impressive setups? Do they change yearly, or are they mostly the same year after year?
**Thoughts and comments are welcome! Thanks everyone!**